How to sum if a cell is not blank in Excel
Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)
=SUMIFS(B2:B8,C2:C8,"<>")Use "<>" (not equal to nothing) as the condition: =SUMIFS(B2:B8,C2:C8,"<>") adds the rows where column C has something in it.
- Result on the example
- 153.75 in
F1 - Works in
- Every current version
- Google Sheets
- Same formula
See it work
The formula is already in F1. Change any input and the result updates, or edit the formula to experiment.
How it works
The condition "<>" means "not equal to empty", so SUMIFS adds the hours on rows where C2:C8 holds a name. Rows with no approver are skipped. SUMIFS puts the range to add first, so you can add more conditions after it.
=SUMIFS(B2:B8,C2:C8,"<>")Result153.75
B2:B87 rows × 1 col: 38.50, 41.00, 36.00, 40.00, …A range: 7 cells in one column.
C2:C87 rows × 1 col: "M. Ruiz", (empty), "M. Ruiz", "K. Shah", …A range: 7 cells in one column.
SUMIFS(B2:B8,C2:C8,"<>")153.75SUMIFS: Adds values that meet every condition.- sum_range
B2:B87 rows × 1 col: 38.50, 41.00, 36.00, 40.00, … - criteria_range1
C2:C87 rows × 1 col: "M. Ruiz", (empty), "M. Ruiz", "K. Shah", … - criteria1
"<>"
- sum_range
In Google Sheets
The same formula works in Google Sheets: =SUMIFS(B2:B8,C2:C8,"<>"). We ran it in Google Sheets mode on the same data and it returns 153.75.
Other ways to do it
Each one was run on the same example sheet.
| Formula | Result | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| =SUMIF(C2:C8,"<>",B2:B8) | 153.75 | SUMIF gives the same result; note the range to add comes last. |
| =SUMPRODUCT((C2:C8<>"")*B2:B8) | 153.75 | Also skips cells whose formula returns "", which "<>" counts as filled. |
Common mistakes
- A cell with a space, or a formula that returns "", looks empty but counts as not blank for
"<>". Use the SUMPRODUCT version, or clean the column. - Putting the condition on the hours column (
=SUMIF(B2:B8,"<>")) adds all the hours. Test the column that is blank or filled.
Try it yourself
Same data, empty answer cell. Your formula is graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data, so a typed-in number won't pass.
Sum if a cell is not blank
F1, total the hours that have an approver in column C.Questions
How do I sum if a cell is blank?
Use "" as the condition: =SUMIFS(B2:B8,C2:C8,"").
How do I add another condition, like a minimum?
Add a pair: =SUMIFS(B2:B8,C2:C8,"<>",B2:B8,">=40").
Checked by running on 2026-10-30: every formula and result on this page was calculated by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine, in both Excel and Google Sheets modes.